My Bow tie Boys!

For the past year or so, Larson has taken to wearing this hideous bow tie that actually came from the dress up box. He is cute and adorable and can totally get away with wearing it. Everyone just smiles. You know that they are thinking.... "Clearly he dressed himself today, what mother would let her son wear that awful looking bow tie to church?"

I actually love it. Mostly because he has the biggest grin on his face and feels so handsome when he is all dressed up.

A few weeks ago, Bro. Thompson brought over a bag filled with the skinny bow ties that he used to wear in his younger days! Needless to say Larson was thrilled beyond comprehension. Bro. Thompson jokingly told him that he expected to see all the Beatty boys wearing them on Sunday.

Can you believe it? We actually convinced all of them to wear one to church on Sunday... even Presten!!! It was actually really fun to see them sorting through the bag to find just the right one to go with their outfit. (Even if the outfit was black pants and a white shirt. :))

Bro. Thompson was delighted!

We had a priest and a deacon that day wearing bow ties as well as a dad and best of all....

an 8 year old beaming from ear to ear!

Things are settling down... a bit!!!

Since the last post... much has happened! I will try to catch you up!

Ashli got married to a great guy.. Josh! Isn't it crazy how life is so backwards and inside out sometimes. The last few years I have been struggling to deal with the fact that my kids are growing up and leaving our home. The home is different and the table is smaller. Now I turn around and my family is growing and the table needs the leaf put back in!!! Isn't family wonderful!

Presten had an amazing track year! He was the region champ in the 100 meter, long jump, medley relay race, and 2nd in the 200 meter. The team also won the region championship. We went to the state meet at BYU and he did well there also. State champ in the long jump, medley relay team, and..... the team took the STATE TITLE!!!! He was so happy to be a part of that!

Naomi won all kinds of awards for academics including top ten in the national testing in 7 areas. Plus she was inducted into the Junior National Honor Society. She finished up volleyball by placing second in the intermountain volleyball tourney with her team in May.

Austen is still going like gang busters. He is currently preparing to participate in the Utah Summer Games with his soccer team. He is also preparing for toe surgery in July. If he ever grows into his feet he will be towering above us all (he has already passed me and he's only 12).

Larson is non stop energy. He wants to swim EVERYDAY!! Right now he likes spending time on his new bike, playing baseball, and this week his dad taught him how to pan for gold. He was so excited to see those little gold flecks in his pan. What a thrill!

Rick is getting stronger and better every day and I am so grateful for the technology and knowledge we have in this day and age. He has such a great attitude and just keeps on moving on and smiling along the way. The garden has been great therapy too.

Tia is working part time in Springdale, and really likes working with the many different types of people who come to visit (except the grumpy, cranky ones :)) She spends nearly every free minute with the singles ward and friends. She is also taking more and more photos and getting really really good at it!